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    Rocky FAFSA rollout leaves millions of students, families frustrated

    Despite a rocky “soft launch,” more than 1 million students and families have filled out the new FAFSA, according to the Department of Education.
    However, it is still unclear when schools will receive each applicant’s information, potentially delaying college award letters and the decision deadline this spring.

    For many families, financial aid is crucial when it comes to affording college.
    But students must first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to access any assistance, including student loans, work study and grants. And this year, a new FAFSA form has been plagued by problems.

    “It does seem consistent with a process that was rushed at the end with inadequate testing,” higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz said. “They are building the plane while flying.”
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    For starters, the new FAFSA just soft-launched on Dec. 30 after a monthslong delay. Typically, students have access to the coming academic year’s form on Oct. 1.
    In the days since its launch, the 2024–25 form was only available for limited windows of time as the U.S. Department of Education worked to “resolve minor issues,” according to a department spokesperson.
    Some of the issues have been specifically related to contributors to the form, such as parents, who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, according to Kantrowitz, in addition to other various glitches and a prolonged processing time.

    1 million students submitted a 2024–25 FAFSA so far

    Still, the site has been flooded with eager applicants who rely on college aid.
    “Over 1 million students and families and counting have successfully filled out the ‘Better FAFSA,’ which is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
    In ordinary years, the FAFSA form is used by more than 17 million students and roughly 5,500 colleges and universities in all 50 states, according to the Department of Education.

    Kantrowitz, who tested the system Jan. 2, said his submitted application “is still showing as not yet finished processing.”
    “Six days later, it is still listed as ‘in review,'” he said. “Normally, the FAFSA would be processed within a few days,” he added.
    Despite the lag, the Department of Education said there is “plenty of time to complete the FAFSA form.” Even if students successfully submit a completed 2024–25 form early this year, that information won’t be sent to schools until late January, the department said.

    Students are ‘understandably frustrated’

    Even by soft-launch standards, the rollout was challenging, according to Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
    “Students, families, and financial aid administrators who have been waiting for this release for months are understandably frustrated,” Draeger said.
    Further, it is still unclear when schools will receive each applicant’s FAFSA information, he added, which is necessary to begin building financial aid packages and to give students and families enough time to review and compare financial aid offers.
    “The sooner the Department can deliver this information, the better,” Draeger said.
    Because of the postponement, colleges might not get their financial aid award offers done until late March or early April, according to Kantrowitz.
    “They’ll probably send out the offers of admissions out on time, but for families, they won’t know how much aid they are going to get,” he said. “They need to know whether they can afford the college.”

    The FAFSA delay’s ‘domino effect’

    That could potentially push back National College Decision Day on May 1, which is the deadline many schools set for admitted students to choose a school.
    “The FAFSA rollout has been a mess and will be even more so if colleges have to push back their commitment deadlines beyond May 1,” said Hafeez Lakhani, founder and president of Lakhani Coaching in New York. “This will have a domino effect on wait list candidates as well.”
    Still, Rick Castellano, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae, advises students and families not to get discouraged.
    “Families shouldn’t use this setback, however, as a reason not to submit the form,” Castellano said.
    “Completing the FAFSA can unlock scholarships, grants, state-based, and federal aid, and the last thing you want to do is leave free money on the table,” he said.
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    If you’re looking for love in the new year, here are things to consider before paying for a dating app

    Dating apps see the highest rate of activity from the beginning of January to Valentine’s Day, experts say.
    “Dating Sunday,” the first Sunday in January, is referred to as “the busiest day for online dating,” said Sheldon Bachan, senior brand communications manager at Tinder.
    While getting back into the dating scene can spur many emotions, one thing is certain: It can be expensive.

    Janina Steinmetz | Digitalvision | Getty Images

    January can set the stage for new beginnings, with many single people setting a resolution to look for love.
    In fact, dating apps see the highest rate of activity at this time of year.

    There are 11.4 million more messages sent globally from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day — compared with the rest of the year, according to global internal data from dating app Tinder, and 58.7 million more likes are sent during this period.
    “Everyone is back from the holidays with fresh New Year’s resolutions whether to find love, make more connections, or to put themselves out there in the New Year,” said Blaine Anderson, a dating coach for men in Austin, Texas.
    “Dating Sunday,” the first Sunday in January, is referred to as “the busiest day for online dating,” said Sheldon Bachan, senior brand communications manager at Tinder.
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    Like many other New Year’s resolutions, getting back on dating apps often requires a financial commitment. Some 35% of Americans who have used a dating website or app have paid to do so at some point, according to a recent report by Pew Research Center.

    The average paying dating app user spends about $19 a month, Morgan Stanley found last year. But some users pay much more. In 2023, Tinder released a $499 monthly subscription, and Hinge introduced a $600-a-month membership.

    3 things to consider before paying for a dating app

    If you’re hunting for love in the new year, here are three things to be mindful of before you pay for a dating app:
    1. Ask yourself if you are ready. If you haven’t made any changes in your life, paying for an app may not help: You’re likely to get the same results that you had before, said Anderson. “Do you have a job that allows you to have more time to date? Do you have the financial means to take people on dates or subscribe to dating apps?… Are you mentally prepared to integrate your life with somebody else’s?” she said.
    2. App costs add to the already high expense of dating: Make sure your budget is prepared to weather the cost of the app as well as the resulting dates. The average cost of a full dinner and a movie across major cities in the U.S. is $159, according to a 2023 analysis by MoneyGeek. A 2020 report by LendingTree shows that Americans spend nearly $700 on dates annually.

    3. Paying for apps does not guarantee a match: While paying app subscriptions may seem to be an investment in your dating life, users must understand that “the most important thing for online dating is to have a standout profile,” said Anderson. Simply paying for apps won’t immediately change your prospects. Instead, edit your profile and get a second opinion from trusted peers or dating experts.
    “It’s not your fault; you didn’t learn this in school,” said Anderson, “We’re not meant to think in 160 characters or a little box of text to describe ourselves.”
    — CNBC reporter Annie Nova contributed reporting. More

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    People may eat more calories after stopping weight loss drugs, according to Deutsche Bank survey

    A survey by Deutsche Bank found that calorie consumption declines when a patient takes a GLP-1 medication like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic or Wegovy.
    However, once the medication is stopped, the number of calories a patient consumes will rise again.
    In some cases, a patient will eat more than they consumed prior to treatment, the survey found.

    A customer shops in a Kroger grocery store on July 15, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
    Brandon Bell | Getty Images

    Investors have cheered a new class of weight loss drugs for their ability to help people shed unwanted pounds, but the findings of a recent poll underscore the challenges patients face if they cease treatment.
    The survey by Deutsche Bank found that calorie consumption declines when a patient takes a GLP-1 medication like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic or Wegovy. However, once the medication is stopped, the number of calories a patient consumes will rise again — and in some cases, will be even higher than what he or she was consuming before treatment began, the survey found.

    The polling was conducted in December, and involved 600 U.S. consumers, Deutsche Bank said in a research note. Seventy percent of the participants were using a GLP-1 drug when questioned, while the remaining 30% had stopped taking this type of medication. The investment bank conducted the survey as part of its attempts to better understand the long-term implications of anti-obesity medications, which also include Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, on the food and beverage industry.
    The survey found that among the patients still on medication, about 30% said they ate “a little less,” while 22% said they ate a “a lot less.”
    “Perhaps surprisingly, 17% of respondents stated that they were consuming a lot more and 18% a little more,” the bank’s analysts wrote. “This meant that a net 18% of those who were using GLP-1 medication were eating less.”
    “However, amongst those who were no longer taking GLP-1 this more than reversed with a net 30% stating that they were now eating more than they were prior to using GLP-1 medication,” the report said.
    “We believe that the survey conclusions back up our view that GLP-1 is not a reason in of itself to avoid investing in Food and Beverage stocks,” the analysts wrote in the note.

    A year to forget

    Without a doubt, 2023 was a year worth forgetting for many food and beverage stocks, with many underperforming the market. For those shares that managed to eke out a gain in 2023, the upside likely came late in the year.
    Many food and beverage stocks began falling in the summer, as awareness of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy spread. The move accelerated after the release of data from Novo Nordisk in August showed that the drugs could help patients not only lose weight but also improve their cardiovascular health. Investors started to worry that people would widely adopt the drugs and there would be all sorts of ripple effects, which started to be reflected in stock prices.
    But in the midst of the market’s year-end rally, a fresh batch of data also showed that patients who took Zepbound and stopped regained around half the weight they had lost while they were on the treatment. That finding helped some of the affected stocks to recover.

    Stock chart icon

    Kraft Heinz shares over the past year.

    Shares of Mondelez, the maker of Oreos and Cadbury, gained 16% over the past three months, which helped it tally an 8% gain over the past year. Kraft Heinz shares posted a 10.2% loss over the past year, but has reaped a 19% gain over the three-month period. U.S.-traded shares of Nestle are up more than 5% over the past three months, but the stock has a 2% loss over the past 12 months. Unilever shares follow a similar pattern. Shares of the Ben & Jerry’s owner are up nearly 2% over the past three months, but are down more than 3% over the past year.

    Appetite comes roaring back

    Deutsche Bank said the impact of anti-obesity medicines on food and beverage stocks needs to assessed “in the context of all weight loss programs and the possibility that GLP-1 cannibalises such programs, limiting the net effect on food and beverage producers.”
    Dr. Shantanu Gaur, founder and CEO of Allurion Technologies, said the results of the survey are not surprising. Allurion, which went public via SPAC in August, is developing a gastric balloon and behavior modification programs to treat obesity.
    “This is something that you would expect,” he said explaining that “appetite can return with a vengeance” once patients stop GLP-1 therapy. Bodies tend to seek out a “set point,” or a preferred weight mass where they will return to without intervention and behavior modification.
    Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, acts like a natural hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, in the body to control insulin levels in the blood and suppress appetite. Zepbound (tirzepatide) mimics GLP-1 as well as a second incretin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP. Once these hormones are no longer supplemented in the body, hunger signals will return.
    The American Medical Association has said that obesity is a chronic condition, and Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly expect patients who take incretin medications will need to be on the drugs long term to control their weight. In this way, incretin drugs are like medications that are taken for conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Patients aren’t told to stop taking those drugs once their blood pressure and cholesterol levels fall to a healthy range. If they do, the readings are likely to spike again.
    But even with blood pressure medication, compliance can be an issue. Dr. Gaur said about half of people on cholesterol medication will stop taking it after a year. The rate of compliance is even lower with anti-obesity medications, he said.
    Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank said it expects interest in weight loss programs may be peaking as shown by internet search data, and that tends to be a good time for investors to hold food and beverage stocks. Nestle and Unilever are the firm’s top European picks, while Mondelez and Kraft rank among its favored U.S. staples names.
    “The main point is that usage of GLP-1 drugs is not just a pure addition to the total number of people on weight loss programs, it is part of the entire eco-system,” the report said. “We suspect that many of the answers given with regard to consumption would be similar for those given by many people when they start a weight loss program.”
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    Social Security beneficiaries can count on checks as government shutdown deadline looms, expert says

    As Congress negotiates federal funding for the 2024 fiscal year, Social Security beneficiaries’ checks won’t be interrupted, expert says.
    But budget negotiations may have an impact on the quality of the services the Social Security Administration can provide.

    The United States Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C., United States on October 4 , 2023. 
    Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

    What may happen with Social Security in a shutdown

    If the worst-case scenario happens, and lawmakers fail to finalize a deal before both of those dates, it may take some time for Americans to notice, according to Andrew Lautz, senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
    “Americans don’t start to really feel the day-to-day effects until a shutdown has lasted for a week or two and agencies have to start shutting down more and more programs and services,” Lautz said.
    Those effects may be felt on a “rolling basis,” he said, as Americans find the programs and services they rely on become unavailable, such as a phone line that becomes inactive because government employees have been furloughed or a department that stops giving out loans or grants during the shutdown period.

    The disruptions may be most acutely felt by tens of thousands of federal employees who find themselves either furloughed or working without pay.
    In reaction to the threat of a partial government shutdown last year, the Social Security Office of Budget, Finance and Management outlined its plans for agency operations during a lapse.
    Certain activities — such as applications for benefits or issuance of Social Security cards — would continue. Other services — such as benefit verifications or replacement Medicare cards — would be put on hold.
    That framework for Social Security may still apply if the lawmakers fail to finalize an agreement before the Feb. 2 deadline, according to Richtman.

    Advocates are watching Social Security funding

    This weekend’s activity has prompted optimism that Washington leaders may be able to get an agreement done before those dates.
    However, Social Security advocates including the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare are closely watching how much funding the agency receives through the negotiations.
    President Joe Biden last year requested $1.4 billion more for Social Security in 2024, while House Republicans advocated for cuts to the agency’s operations budget.

    Current negotiations point to flat funding for the Social Security Administration, according to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, while reports show the agency already has long waits for service and outdated technology.
    Lack of adequate funding may challenge new Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley’s plans to improve the agency’s services, Richtman said.
    Lawmakers often report hearing from constituents that they have difficulty getting through to Social Security, obtaining replacement cards or verifying their benefits, he said.
    “These members of Congress or Senate complain to Social Security, but they won’t provide enough funding to actually be able to do the job,” Richtman said.
    “That’s hypocrisy on the part of those members,” he said. More

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    Tax filing season kicks off Jan. 29. Here’s what taxpayers need to know

    The IRS will start accepting and processing 2023 tax returns for individual filers on Jan. 29.
    Most taxpayers must file federal returns and pay balances by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest. 

    IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on April 19, 2023.
    Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images

    The tax season officially kicks off Jan. 29, which marks the first day the IRS will accept and process 2023 tax returns, the IRS announced Monday.
    Most taxpayers must file federal returns and pay balances by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest. But the agency urges taxpayers to begin the filing process sooner.

    IRS Free File, which offers free guided tax prep through software partners, will open Jan. 12 and will hold returns until they can be filed with the IRS. Taxpayers may qualify with an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less for 2023.
    Meanwhile, the IRS Direct File pilot, which will allow free online filing through the agency, will roll out in phases with wide availability expected by mid-March for eligible taxpayers in participating states.
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    “As our transformation efforts take hold, taxpayers will continue to see marked improvement in IRS operations in the upcoming filing season,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement. “IRS employees are working hard to make sure that new funding is used to help taxpayers by making the process of preparing and filing taxes easier.”   
    The IRS expects to receive more than 128.7 million individual tax returns by the federal deadline. As of Dec. 29, the average refund for 2023 was $3,167.

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    It’s time to boost 401(k) plan contributions for 2024. Here’s how much you should save

    For 2024, you can defer up to $23,000 into 401(k) plans, up from $22,500 in 2023, with an extra $7,500 for savers age 50 and older.
    Some 15% of investors maxed out employee deferrals in 2022, according to a 2023 report from Vanguard.
    However, you need to consider your short- and long-term financial goals before maxing out your 401(k), experts say.

    Shapecharge | E+ | Getty Images

    If you’re itching to save more for retirement, there are higher 401(k) contribution limits for 2024. But there are a few things to consider before maxing out your plan, experts say.
    For 2024, you can defer up to $23,000 into 401(k) plans, up from $22,500 in 2023, with an extra $7,500 for savers age 50 and older. Some higher earners can funnel even more into their 401(k), depending on plan rules.

    Some 15% of investors maxed out employee deferrals in 2022, according to a 2023 report from Vanguard. However, the average deferral rate was 7.3% for employees automatically enrolled in their plan.
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    Pretax 401(k) contributions provide an upfront tax break by reducing adjusted gross income, but investors owe levies on future withdrawals. By comparison, after-tax Roth 401(k) contributions allow assets to grow tax-free, without reducing current-year taxes.
    “If we’re fully comfortable with waiting until past age 59½ to touch that money, those tax advantages can really go a long way,” said certified financial planner Douglas Boneparth, president of Bone Fide Wealth in New York. He is also a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council.

    If we’re fully comfortable with waiting until past age 59½ to touch that money, those tax advantages can really go a long way.

    Douglas Boneparth
    President of Bone Fide Wealth

    However, “affordability is obviously a big part of it,” and other financial goals may come before maximizing your retirement contributions in a given year, he said.

    Don’t miss your 401(k) match

    If you have limited cash flow, experts suggest contributing at least up to the employer match, which is a company deposit based on your contributions. “But then goal priorities kick in,” Boneparth said.
    If you’re saving to buy a home or pay for a wedding, “you might see more money allocated to a money market fund or savings account than your 401(k)” for a time, he said.
    Your emergency savings are also important, said Boston-based CFP Catherine Valega, founder of Green Bee Advisory, who recommends starting with at least three months of expenses.
    Ultimately, you need to rank your short- and long-term goals, including how much those goals cost and when you want to achieve them, Boneparth added.

    Consider ‘trial and error’ for contributions

    “Our goal is to get to that 401(k) max for everybody,” Valega said. “But there are plenty of clients who can’t.”
    When deciding the right percentage, “sometimes, it’s a question of trial and error,” and you can try a higher contribution for a couple of paychecks to see how it feels for your cash flow, she said.
    “If it feels like you’ve got a little more wiggle room, then you can increase it by one percent,” Valega said.

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    ‘There is no retirement when you do gig work,’ says ‘Side Hustle Safety Net’ author. How that affects workers

    The sociologist Alexandrea Ravenelle studies the decline of the one-job era, and the rise of the gig economy.
    It’s not good news for workers, she says.

    Alexandrea Ravenelle, author of “Side Hustle Safety Net.”
    Courtesy: Alexandrea Ravenelle

    Alexandrea Ravenelle studies the decline of the one-job era.
    The sociologist chronicles the spread of the gig economy and the rise of “poly-working,” or working multiple jobs. Ravenelle points to research by the Federal Reserve that found 16% of American adults engage in gig work, and a recent report by H&R Block that showed that millennials work, on average, two jobs.

    “It’s going to take two jobs to give you the same status of living that earlier generations could enjoy with one job,” Ravenelle said.
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    Her new book, “Side Hustle Safety Net,” is based on interviews with nearly 200 workers, mostly in the New York City area, during the Covid pandemic. The book reveals the precarity of the gig economy during the best and worst times.
    “There is no retirement when you do gig work,” Ravenelle said. “You simply get tired and stop doing it or you get deactivated from platforms because you’re not moving fast enough.”
    CNBC interviewed Ravenelle, an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, this month about how the rise of the gig economy has affected workers. (The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)

    Sharing economy became ‘more about making money’

    Annie Nova: Your interest in this topic is somewhat personal. Formerly, you said you were a “super-adjunct.” What is that?
    Alexandrea Ravenelle: Before I went back to school to get my Ph.D., way before I started teaching at UNC, I was an adjunct at a lot of schools. It’s not unusual for somebody to adjunct at four or five places at the same time, and just drive from school to school.
    AN: When did the gig economy begin?
    AR: The gig economy comes out of the sharing economy, and the sharing economy dates back to the Great Recession. We had a high level of unemployment, and people were looking to make do with less. Instead of going out and buying a drill to assemble your Ikea furniture, you just want to borrow one from a neighbor. But very quickly, that sharing economy becomes less about saving money and more about making money. A friend giving you a ride, because it’s going to be cheaper than a taxi, becomes all about, how many workers can we get driving and how much money can we make?

    Side Hustle Safety Net
    Courtesy: Alexandrea Ravenelle

    AN: What are some of the reasons people are increasingly working multiple jobs?
    AR: There are a number of different reasons. Part of it is student debt; we have much higher levels of student loan debt with this generation than with past generations. We also see employers very deliberately try to keep somebody at 18, 24 or 27 hours a week, because once they hit 30 hours a week, then they’re on the hook for health insurance.
    AN: How did the pandemic change the lives of gig workers?
    AR: During early Covid, gig workers could get unemployment assistance for the first time ever. This was great for workers, and it shows what happens when workers get this money. Often, they use it to change their lives and really end up in a better place.
    One college-educated worker had been doing Uber for four years, even though he thought it was going to be a short-term thing at first. He was able to use his unemployment assistance to stop doing ride-sharing, and actually become a community habilitation specialist. Now he’s helping individuals with developmental disabilities to be more involved in society.

    A delivery-man pushes his bike along a street during a snow storm in New York.
    Jewel Samad | AFP | Getty Images

    How gig workers ‘get stuck’

    AN: How can people plan for their future or try to work toward financial goals with such precarious work?
    AR: It’s really hard to save money doing gig work. Often, people think that they’ve saved some money, and then they get their IRS bill, and they realize they really haven’t saved anything. They’re going to have to pay their taxes, and then the employer’s share of Social Security and Medicare.
    AN: What stops workers from leaving the gig economy?
    AR: A lot of the workers I’ve interviewed believe they’re going to be doing gig work for a little while. But I’ve followed up with people who’ve been doing it for 10 years.
    Workers get stuck.
    After somebody’s been doing it for six months, employers look at them, like, ‘What have you been doing? How does that mean you’re going to now use your college degree in an office?’ And so it becomes very difficult for people to move beyond gig work. I’ve talked to elite gig workers who’ve been doing it for three or four years, and they say they can’t get job interviews anywhere.

    AN: It feels like the gig economy and side hustles can really be romanticized, as a way for workers to have more freedom and flexibility. What does this get wrong?
    AR: For years, the platforms have marketed themselves as a solution to stagnant wages, and for those simply needing additional money. In reality, the work is not always there.
    And when you do make money, it looks like you might be making a decent amount, but you’re not factoring in the payroll taxes that a W-2 employer would be withholding or paying on your behalf. You’re not factoring in things like your time, or the delay when you’re sitting there waiting to do a food delivery.
    You get one ping, and then maybe it’s 40 minutes before you get another delivery. That is all wasted time that the platforms don’t pay you for. They’re relying on this kind of reserve labor force that’s willing to just sit on the sidelines waiting for work. It’s very much something out of Upton Sinclair’s, “The Jungle,” with people waiting outside the slaughterhouse gates, except people are waiting outside McDonald’s hoping they get a ping.
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    56 million Americans have been in credit card debt for at least a year. ‘We are seeing pockets of trouble,’ expert says

    More Americans are trapped in a credit card debt spiral and fewer are able to pay their bills in full at the end of the month.
    Now, 49% of credit card holders carry debt from month to month, up from 46% last year, according to a new report by Bankrate.

    Americans are increasingly leaning on their credit cards.
    Altogether, card balances now total $1.08 trillion, according to the latest quarterly report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a new record.

    “Over the past two years, Americans’ credit card balances have skyrocketed 40%,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate.
    “While Americans are managing their credit card debt pretty well, all things considered, we are seeing pockets of trouble at the household level,” Rossman said.
    More cardholders are carrying debt from month to month and fewer are able to pay off their balances in full, according to a separate report by Bankrate.com.
    More from Personal Finance:Consumers are racking up more ‘phantom debt’Did you break your New Year’s money resolutions already?Americans are ‘doom spending’ 
    Nearly half, or 49%, of credit card holders carry debt from month to month on at least one card, up from 46% last year, the report found, and 56 million cardholders have been in debt for at least a year.

    “The current environment is tough,” Rossman said. “Although inflation has eased, there’s a cumulative effect there.”
    This may also be a consequence of “shifts in lending, overextension, or deeper economic distress associated with higher borrowing costs and price pressures,” Fed researchers noted in a blog post.

    Credit card interest rates top 20%

    Not only can carrying a balance lower your credit score, but sky-high annual percentage rates also make revolving debt a particularly hard cycle to break.
    The average credit card rate is now more than 20%, on average — an all-time high — after rising at the steepest annual pace ever, in step with the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike cycle.
    “Most cardholders’ rates have risen five-and-a-quarter percentage points during that span as a result of the Fed’s rate hikes meant to combat inflation,” Rossman said. “It’s no wonder, then, that we’re seeing more people carrying more debt for longer periods of time.”
    Even though Fed officials indicated as many as three cuts coming this year, credit card APRs aren’t likely to improve much. 
    “I don’t think that’s going to bring a lot of relief,” Rossman added.

    The math is ‘brutal’

    At 20.74%, if you made minimum payments toward the average credit card balance — which is $6,088, according to Transunion — it would take you more than 17 years to pay off the debt and cost you more than $9,072 in interest, Bankrate calculated.
    “The minimum payment math is just brutal,” Rossman said.
    The first thing you should do is acknowledge what you owe and the interest rate, he advised. Then, start to pay down the debt with a 0% balance transfer card.

    Cards offering up to 21 months with no interest on transferred balances “are still widely available,” he added. If you can take advantage of that type of promotion on the same average balance and make 21 equal payments of just under $300, “you are out of debt in less than two years,” Rossman said.
    Making the best use of a balance transfer boils down to making those payments on time and aggressively paying down the balance during the introductory period.
    If you don’t pay the balance off, the remaining balance will have a higher APR applied to it, which is generally about 23%, on average, in line with the rates for new credit.
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